In compliance with a new British law, hit reality show Love Island is banning all social media use for all participants while the series is airing, .
A lot of popular reality TV series are coming back in 2023, including Big Brother, The Osbournes, and the British ITV series Love Island. However, when the newest season of Love Island airs early next year, the showrunners have an unexpected rule about their contestants’ social media accounts. According to an article by Deadline, the British TV station ITV has chosen to ban all of its contestants from social media while the series airs. This comes as UK’s duty of care regulations have tightened in the wake of multiple suicides — two Love Island contestants killed themselves within two years of appearing on the popular TV show, and a contestant from the Jeremy Kyle Show also committed suicide soon after appearing.
“The bold decision to pause Islanders’ social media activity during the new series is testament to ITV’s serious intent, especially as this input provides both a benefit to the appeal of the program and a potential source of mental health problems,” Dr. Matthew Gould told Deadline. So what does social media have to do with mental health? It might surprise you to hear this, but social media tends to be full of angry loud jerks who have nothing better to do with their time but shout down, insult, degrade and belittle others for no other reason than their own entertainment and self-aggrandizement.
In fact, a recent study has shown that social media tends to wreak havoc on its users’ mental health thanks to its relentless promotion of narcissistic and materialistic values. Its negative effect on users has long been known by Facebook, with internal studies showing that their apps cause body image issues and suicidal thoughts. So, while the latest season of Love Island airs, the reality show decided to keep its contestants safe from an internet full of sociopaths by keeping them off the websites entirely.
The effect of social media can be especially difficult for reality TV contestants, who find themselves suddenly in the public eye. Since the public tends to include every antisocial misogynist who fantasizes about screaming their way into being respected by women, this causes some unfortunate behavior towards these shows’ female contestants. Complaints to UK regulator Ofcom have indicated that the women who appear on Love Island often get bullied by these less-than-sane fans, leading directly to ITV’s new policy.
The social media ban isn’t the only thing that ITV is doing to help the contestants of Love Island. According to psychiatrist Dr. Matthew Gould, who consults with the show’s producers on mental health issues, the contestants will also receive training on “mutually respectful behavior in relationships” before the season airs. Contestants will also have access to resources that will help them identify coercive and controlling behaviors, along with other negative relationship behaviors. Love Island contestants will also be offered at least eight therapy sessions after the show ends, and producers have pledged to check in with contestants for 14 months to keep tabs on their wellbeing.
The next season of Love Island, which takes place in South Africa, will air on ITV2 on January 16 of 2023. It will be hosted by Maya Jama.
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